Page 4 of One Unexpected Gift
CHAPTER TWO
Owen and Olivia graciously accepted Sky and Gabriella without reservation. With her teenage years on the horizon, Olivia was at the perfect stage of being responsible without the adolescent attitude. She fell in love with Gabby instantly and learned with ease how to change a diaper and to properly cradle while protecting her head and neck.
Olivia lay on the floor next to Gabby playing with her little fingers and toes. Skylar took advantage of having her hands free and kicked her feet up on the coffee table, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes. Living with the three of them had been a welcome relief. Not only did she not have to worry about where to live, but she got a few minutes to herself.
She loved her daughter with all her heart and then some, but she yearned to sleep through the night again. The last time she remembered having a good night’s sleep was around the five months mark. Once her belly popped, she had to get up every few hours to pee. Now she got up every few hours to nurse. Gabriella’s sleep stretches were longer than they used to be, but it would be nice to catch a solid five hours again.
She felt the couch cushion sink next to her. “How would you feel about some girl time?”
Keeping her eyes closed, Sky grinned. “I’ve had nothing but girl time for the past three days. It’s been heavenly.”
There were women on the military base but none she’d grown attached to like her band of sisters, the name they called themselves when they met at Bootcamp nearly fifteen years ago.
“I mean adult time. You, me, Gina, and Brooke. Just for appetizers and a drink.”
“I can’t drink while I’m nursing.”
“Right. You can still eat. And you can be our designated driver.” Charlie winked. “Eventually someone else will be pregnant and be on DD duty. Just kidding though. I’ll drive tonight. This is about celebrating you.”
“Gabby sleeps anywhere so I guess that’s fine.”
“Or Olivia could babysit her. Owen will be home soon.”
“Yes. Please?” Olivia sat up and crawled on her knees over to the couch. “I’ll be really good with her, I promise. Can I babysit?”
Sky covered one breast with her hand. “What if she gets hungry?”
“We’ll leave after her next feeding. She doesn’t usually eat again for another two hours. We’ll go somewhere close and be back before she gets hungry.”
Sky squirmed and repositioned her legs. “I don’t know. It’s not like she’s clockwork yet. She’s only four weeks old.”
“I can call you if she gets fussy,” Olivia begged. Her eyes wide and hopeful.
“You’d be doing Liv a favor, you know. She needs the experience if she plans on advertising her babysitting skills this summer.”
Feeling trapped, but not in a bad way, Sky sighed. “I guess. But you have to promise to call me the second she starts squirming.”